Merchandise shipping container



J. WNfiEWG MERCHANDISE SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed July 9, 1938 INVENO.

ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 24, 1940 UNITED STATES rarer OFFICE 2 (llaimsi Thisinvention relates to merchandise shipping containers and it hasparticular reference to a shipping container especially adaptable forthe shipping of wearing apparel.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a shipping containerin which merchandise such as wearing apparel may be transported eitherby rail, truck or other common carrier and in which means are providedwhereby the merchandise will reach its point of destination inessentially the same condition as when first placed in the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure which is lightin weight thereby materially decreasing the shipping costs.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide means whereby thecontainer may be readily moved by hand without the necessity of a handtruck or the like.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a basic frame workconstructed of pipe units or tubing, which frame work may be readilyassembled, at a minimum of cost.

Yet another object is to provide a container in which the merchandisemay be readily placed and locked in a predetermined position therein andwhich merchandise may be readily removed from the container at itsdestination.

Still another object is to provide means surrounding the frame work ofthe container which precludes the possibility of the merchandise, suchas dresses or the like, from coming into direct contact with the metalparts of the frame Work.

Another object of the invention is to provide a covering for thestructure which is light in weight, resistant to the elements and whichmay be readily released from closed position and thus provide means forthe ready placement of the merchandise within thecontainer as well asthe removal of the said merchandise therefrom.

With the foregoing objects as paramount, the invention has particularreference to its salient features of construction and arrangement ofparts which will become manifest as the description proceeds, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective View of the invention and showingthe frame work and locking means for the merchandise.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the locking means inlocked and released positions, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view showing theconstruction of the preferred form of the frame work and illustratingthe relationship of the locking means relative thereto.

Heretofore, merchandise has been packed in relatively heavy containerssuch as wooden boxes or heavy corrugated paper boxes. These boxes eventhough constructed of light wood such as ply wood have represented arelatively high percentage of the acutal weight of the merchandise beingshipped, especially in the case of wearing apparel. Moreover,considerable manual operation is necessary to close and open thecontainer.

Merchandise such as wearing apparel when shipped by conventionalmethods, has almost invariably required hand operations such as pressingbefore the merchandise could be placed on display. With the structure tobe hereinafter described these operations have been found unnecessary,thereby resulting in an economic gain.

Referring primarily to Figure 1, the reference numeral I denotes a lightweight covering, preferably of weather proof fabric. However, it isobvious that with slight modifications the covering may be comprised ofother suitable material, such as ply wood.

The covering i includes a depending flap 2 which flap may be secured inthe position shown in Figure 1 and may further be raised upwardly andback by releasing the locking means, preferably of the type illustratedand conventionally known as a zipper 3.

As best illustrated in Figure 2 the principal frame work is comprised ofmembers 4 which are rigidly fabricated into a unitary and rigidstructure, either by threadably interconnecting the members or othersuitable means such as welding. The merchandise is prevented from cominginto direct contact with the members 4 by means of a suitable covering4a. A longitudinally arranged member 5 is positioned slightly below theplane of the upper members 4.

A plate 6 is longitudinally and vertically arranged directly above themember 5. This plate is provided with a series of bolts 1, best shown inFigure 3. Wing nuts 8 serve to position the plate 6 in a desiredvertical position relative to a member 5.

Springs 9, normally urge the plate 6 to a raised position relative tothe member 5 when the locked nuts 8 are rotated on the threads of thebolts '1 to a position adjacent the lower ends of these bolts. When themembers 5 and 6 are in the hereinabove described spaced relationship,merchandise holders such as garment hanger hooks Ill may be readilyarranged to surround the member 5. Subsequent to this operation the wingnuts 8 are normally turned to effect downward movement of the plate 6against the action of the springs 9, thereby effectively locking thegarment hangers in position.

Subsequent to this operation the flap 2 is closed and held in closedposition by the locking means 3, after which the container and itscontents are ready for shipment.

To facilitate movement of the container, handles H are provided at theends of the container and castors 12 are provided at the lowermostcorners of the container thereby allowing ready movement of thecontainer of a surface by a single operator.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of somemodification and such modification as may be construed within the scopeand meaning of the appended claims is also considered to be within thespirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A garment shipping container comprising a metal frame of greaterlength than width and garment supporting and retaining meanslongitudinally disposed in its top, a moisture-proof fabric covering forsaid frame having an unobstructed side opening, a flap comprising oneside wall and a portion of the top of said covering to close saidopening and releasably secured along the sides and bottom whereby to bedisposed on the top of said container when inoperative and to reveal aportion of each of said garments in the container from one end thereofto the other, and to provide for insertion and removal of said garments.

2. A garment shipping container comprising a rigid skeleton frame havinggarment supporting and retaining means longitudinally disposed in itstop, a fabric covering for said frame having an opening unobstructed bysaid frame, a flap for said opening having correlated fastening meansbetween said flap and cover to effect ready release and securement ofsaid flap and whereby the latter is capable of being inoperativelydisposed atop said container to reveal individually the garments in saidcontainer, and to enable the same to be introduced into and withdrawnfrom said container from one end thereof to the other.

JACK GINSBERG.

